New Cars and Spy Reports - August 2006

BREAK THE ECONO-MOLDSaturn continues to shed its dowdy image and offers a fun-to-drive roadster as proof.

Saturns aren't just for librarians anymore. Thanks to the Sky, there's more to Saturn than straight-laced cars. Basically a mechanical clone of Pontiac's Solstice, the Sky's body has no Pontiac sheetmetal at all. Inside, the steering wheel and instrument panel differ from the Solstice's. And to GM's credit, driving the Sky is subtly different from piloting the Solstice. Several hundred miles at the Sky's wheel in California's Sonoma Valley proved to be at least as rewarding as making the trip in the Solstice. However, the Sky could still stand for some more moxie than its 177 hp and five-speed manual provide. The 260-hp turbocharged Red Line version, due this fall, should offer that. However, securing the folding top is more of an annoyance than it should be. --Jim Dunne

SHELBY GT500
Pony Express

Entry to the exclusive 500-hp club just got more affordable. For $42,000 you can buy a Ford Shelby GT500. This very special Mustang has a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 that makes exactly 500 hp at 6000 rpm and 480 lb.-ft. of torque at 4500 rpm. The V8 is backed by a six-speed manual. What a deal. Recently, we had a blast ripping gears, melting tires and swinging the tail wide all day on a road course in Southern California. But despite the palm-drenching fun, we were surprised that it wasn't the raw and rough experience we'd expected. Ford beefed up the Mustang's entire structure and the SVT

team tamed the suspension. The result is a fast car with amazing composure over bad pavement. It's no Town Car, but the GT500 didn't shake or quiver even when we pounded it over a steeply peaked railroad crossing. The penalty for all that stiffness, and the cast-iron engine block, is weight: just under 4000 pounds. Regardless, the power seems to easily melt that fat. And for those who want it, there's a convertible too. Yes, we like the sun shining on our shoulders as we blast by those 400-hp weaklings. --Ben Stewart

NISSAN QUEST
Cabin Fever

Shoppers who looked at the Nissan Quest minivan liked the swoopier-than-a-normal-minivan exterior. But they disliked the funky interior. Enter the revamped '07 Quest. After driving several new Quests on the back roads outside Nashville, we're happy to say the new Quest is rid of the annoying ills. Except for some minor changes to the grille and headlights, exterior styling is basically unchanged. The keen-eyed will spot that the '07 door handles and roof rack have the brighter appearance of polished chrome. Inside, the weird binnacle in the center of the dash is less intrusive and cleaner than before. The gauges on the updated Quest are in front of the steering wheel. And head restraints on the rear seats now flip down out of the way when the rear seats are folded; they no longer need to be removed and stowed. The available leather upholstery looks rich--nicer than the earlier model's seats. Look for prices on the Quest to peak at about the $40,000 level on even the most fully loaded version. --J.D.

SUZUKI M109R
Fortified

Suzuki Boulevards have been easy-to-ride, efficient cruisers. But none had the hairy-chested brawn you want in a true muscle bike. Until now. The torque from the M109R's 120-hp 1783cc V-Twin is ridiculous. To underscore its potential, the M109R has what amounts to the same front brake as the GSX-R 1000 sportbike. It stops quick enough to suck your peepers from their sockets. But don't let the bike fool you. As we found in the Santa Monica canyons, it corners like a cruiser. --B.S.

DETROIT SPY By Jim Dunne

Saturn's "Europeanization" continues. The 2008 Vue is going to share its platform with a model from Opel, GM's German-based subsidiary. While the cars have similarities, their sheetmetal--especially doors--is different. Interestingly, the Saturn bears little resemblance to the Saturn PreVue concept seen at the auto show in New York earlier this year.

Chrysler will put a smiley face on the Sebring. Horizontal grille bars with upward curves at the ends contrast with today's straight bars. New, highly intricate wheel spokes upgrade the side appearance. At the rear, the greenhouse ends in a vertical line, distinct from '06. Note that only this four-door will be offered in 2007.

Chevy introduced its Tahoe last fall, and will unveil the Silverado pickup from the same platform this fall. The windshield is nicely laid back for a more spacious interior and improved aerodynamics. Finally, the cargo-box sides appear slightly higher, mimicking the current Ford F-150.

ASIA SPY By Ben Stewart

Nissan's luxury division, Infiniti, is playing it safe. The '07 G35 won't stray too far from the recipe that won it so much acclaim back in '02. The G35 retains the original's sporty looks and ride. A revised 3.5-liter V6 will make over 300 hp paired to either a six-speed manual or paddle-shifted five-speed automatic. The Infiniti's athleticism will be boosted, compliments of aluminum suspension components and added body rigidity.

A V8-powered rear-drive Hyundai? Don't laugh. One's coming soon to a store near you. Our spies caught engineers readying this prototype for the 2008 model year. Expect this full-size luxury car, likely to be called the Equus, to emulate the panache, power and poise of Mercedes-Benz and Lexus--for around $30,000.

The 2007 Honda CR-V is almost here, based on the Acura RDX. But the Honda gets a fuel-efficient four-cylinder instead of Acura's turbo. We won't get a hybrid version, though; our sources say it's too costly. The Fit will be Honda's next hybrid.

Sharing its platform with the Solstice, the Sky looks and drives better. PHOTOGRAPH BY KYOKO HAMADA.

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